Electric vaporizer



March 28, 1939.

J. ROBINSON 2,151,719

ELECTRIC VAPORIZER Filed July 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 28, 1939.

J. ROBINSON ELECTRIC VAPORIZER s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 20, 1935 INV NTOR.I

Patented Mar. 28, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIG VAPORIZER Joseph Robinson, New York, N. Y.

Application July 20,

8 Claims.

Medical science now emphasizes the importance of heat in the successful treatment of the common cold, sinus infection, catarrh, hay-fever and other similar afllictions. Hot vapors from proper medicinal mediums stimulate circulation and tend to re-vitalize the diseased or ailing membranes.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, effective electrically heated instru ment of the individual hand type by which hot medicated vapors of the character described may be quickly and conveniently produced and, by inhalation, are c'arried while hot directly to the afiiicted membranes 'or to-the regions thereof in the treatment of the above and other afflictions of the respiratory organs.

The novel features of my invention are more fully described in the following specification, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvement;

Figure 2 is a vertical section'through the construction shown in Figure 1. In this view a part of the electric cord B isbroken away;

Figure 3 isa. plan view looking at the bottom of the cap or coverF of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the construction shown in Figure 2 with the cap F removed;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan View taken on th line 5--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is asectional plan view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the heating unit of my invention comprising the medicament container E and the electric stove C. In this View these parts are shown in permanent assembly;

Figure 8 is a plan View, as seen from the bottom, of the heating unit shown in Figure 7 Figure 9'is a sectional plan view on the line 99 of Figure '7 showing the resistance coil and mica covering therefor of the heater or stove C used in my invention;

Figure 16 illustrates a modification of the cap or cover shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 11 is a further modification of said cover.

My invention comprises a hollow, vertically tapering cylindrical base A made of any suitable material. The base has a full opening at its top, and an opening of reduced diameter at its bottom through which the electric cord '13 passes. On its interior and near its lower end the base is provided with a fiat portion l3 which snugly 1935, Serial No. 32,438

engages a complementarily shaped portion IQ of a non-electric conducting terminal block 20 to lock the block, and the parts assembled on it, against undesired rotation in the base. The block is vertically slotted at 2| to closely receive the lower ends of a pair of vertically arranged switch blades 22 and 23. These blades are preferably made or a resilient material, such as spring bronze, and are anchored to the terminal 20 by suitable screws 24 which serve also to anchor the electric cord B in place. The strands of this cord are preferably knotted, as shown at 25, to remove all undue strains from the terminal screws and from the wires of the cord B which are anchored beneath the heads of these screws. At one side the interior wall of the base A is provided with a vertical groove 26 having a flat bottom for receiving the front face of the disc shaped head 21 of the switch button 28. This button extends through an opening centrally ar- 20 ranged with respect to the groove 26 near the lower end of the latter. It will be observed that while the switch blade 23 extends diagonally up ward from the terminal 20 for a distance, it continues upwardly in a vertical plane from a point near the lower end of the groove 26. This arrangement provides a full bearing for the spring blade 23 across the fiat head 21 of the button 28. At its upper end the blade is turned rearwardly slightly, as shown at 29, to provide clearance for assembling the heater or stove C in the base A.

Opposite the switch button 28 and slightly above its center I provide a segmental groove 30 on theinterior wall of the base A. This groove lockingly receives the finger or anchor lug 3| of the switch blade 22. The'lug is formed by turning the upper end of the blade back over itself, which arrangement provides at 32 a firm support against undue downward movement of the finger or lug 3| when the heater or stove C is screwed into or assembled on the base A by threading it into the reinforced threaded head 33 of the blade 22. The finger 3! is curved or turned upwardly slightly at 34 to cause it to impinge on or bite into the upper flat wall of the anchoring groove 3|].

The heater or stove C rests on the horizontally fiat annular surface 35 of the upper end of the base A. It includes a base 36 of suitable heat resisting moldable material, such as Thermorock or porcelain, and is provided with a spiral way 31 in its upper side, Figures 2 and 9. In this spiral way a resistance coil D of suitable size, length and material is mounted. One end of the coil is anchored under the vertically arranged anchor screw 38, the square head of which fits snugly in a complementary formed or other shaped opening in the hot coil support or base 36. The lower portion or extension 39 of the base is generally cone shaped and is provided with an annular collar or shoulder 49. An opening or groove 4| leads down from the spiral way 31 to the apex of the cone 39. The other end 42 of the resistance coil D is passed through or into this opening as shown, and is drawn into close engagement with the inner wall thereof for permanent protection. The extremity 43 of this end is then wrapped around the collar 48, and under a contact washer 44 which sets over the collar into engagement with the coil D at 43. A mica or other insulating washer 45 of substantial thickness is mounted on the screw 38 against the washer 44 whereupon a suitable nut 46 is screwed tightly against the insulating washer 45. A hollow spacer sleeve 41 is then passed over the lower portion of the screw 38 and is locked thereon by center punching the sleeve, as at 49, or by otherwise securing it firmly in place on the screw. When thus assembled, the sleeve 41 acts as a lock for preventing loosening of the nut 46 and consequent loss of proper connection between the wire 42 and the contact washer 44. As a covering for the heater C, and as a means of keeping the resistance coil D from working or springing out of its spiral seat in the heater base 36, and to insulate the coil with respect to the bottom of the cup 59 of the container E, I provide a perforated mica disc 5| of substantial thickness. With this disc in place I pass the cylindrically shaped cup or container E, made of suitable material, preferably aluminum, down over the heater C. The sleeve is turned in at its upper end to form the cup 50, the bottom of which is flat and comparatively broad to spread it out over the maximum area of the heating surface of the stove C. This spread of the bottom of the cup quickens the vaporization of the medicament in the cup 50 by utilizing the maximum amount of heat from the heater C. It will be observed that a chamber 52 is provided between the outer wall of the container E and the cup 50, and that the fit of the stove in the sleeve or container E is snug. This arrangement of the parts entraps the heat in the chamber from which it escapes relatively slowly, thus prolonging the retention of heat in the medicament The stove C and mica covering 5| are locked in place by a flat lock ring 53 which is pressed tightly into the sleeveE and against a flat annular bearing on the bottom of the coil support or base 36. The ring is provided with spaced lugs 54, Figure 8, which are turned upwardly into complementary grooves in the bottom of the base 36, see Figure 2. This arrangement securely anchors the heater C in place in the sleeve E and prevents rotation of the heater in the sleeve. The sleeve and the heater therefore become the unit shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. This unit is assembled with or on the base A much as an electric globe is screwed into its socket. That is to say, the screw 38 of the unit is threaded into the head 33 of the assembled switch. During this operation the sleeve E passes down along, and fits closely with, the vertical sides 55 of the base A until the lock ring 53 engages the flat bearing surface 35 on the upper end of the base A. The engagement of these surfaces and parts correctly positions the heating unit vertically and laterally with respect to the base A. Further threading of the screw 38 into the head of the anchor blade 22 draws the collar or lock ring 53 tightly against the upper end of the base A, since the anchor blade 22 of the switch cannot move upwardly to any great extent because of the interlock of the finger 3| thereof with the groove 38 of the base A. Nor can it, by reason of the engagement of the flat portions l8 and IQ of the base A and the terminal block 20 respectively, rotate in the groove 30 of the base A. To prevent the terminal block 20 being drawn upward unduly during the assembly operation, thereby possibly causing the upper end 29 of the switch blade 23 to strike against the cone 39 of the base 36 instead of engaging the contact washer 44 as intended, the spacer sleeve 49 is arranged to engage the head 33 of the switch blade 22 and act as a stop for this assembly.

To lift and direct the vapors from the heated medicament in the cup 50 to the nasal passage, I provide a suitable cap or cover F having a relatively large thick base portion 56 which sets down over and covers the container E, an interior annular shoulder or other stop 51' being provided on this part to position it vertically on the container. This cover effectively insulates the container, and is provided with a series of vertically extending grooves or flutes 51 which turn inwardly at their upper ends. These flutes are equally spaced around the interior wall of the base of the cover F and serve to direct currents of air upward along the hot container E and into the cup 50. The upper portion of the cover or cap F is reduced in diameter immediately above the cup to form a graceful nasal member 58, which is perforated at 59 and provided with an interior chamber 60, and which may if desired be of twin formation to provide a nasal member for each nasal passage. It will be understood that the act of inhalation lifts air currents up through the grooves or flutes 51 into the cup 50 where they pick up the hot medicated vapors and carry them upwardly into the reserve chamber 60 and through the reduced opening 59 of the cover F into the nasal passage, and that these currents are heated as they travel upwardly along the hot sides of the container or sleeve E. The cap F may, of course, be made of any suitable material such as Bakelite or clear glass.

The modification of the cover F shown in Figure 10 consists in providing the upper portion of the cover with a cylindrical seat or neck 6| over which snugly fits an individual sanitary tip 62 made of paper or other suitable light material. These sanitary tips may be removed and retained, or discarded, after use. They conveniently adapt one of my improved Vaporizers to the alternate use of each member of the family without the necessity of sterilizing the tip of the cover F after a member of the family has used it.

The modification of the cover F shown in Figure 11 consists in providing windows or openings 63 in opposite sides of the cover at a point above the top of the sleeve or container E. An opening 64 is formed in the top of the cover F and removably and interchangeably receives a nasal tip 65 of different colors for different members of the family. This tip may also be of twin formation, and is provided with a hollow shank 66 which extends through the opening 64 into the cup 50, the opening in the sleeve extending, of course, up through the tip 65. In this modification the air currents previously referred to enter the cup 50 through the windows 63.

In the various embodiments of my invention illustratedin this application any desired'medicament may be used. The cover F is removed and-into the deep cup made deep to prevent spilling the medicament, an amount of the medicament equal to about one fourth of thempacity of the cupis placed. The cover may either remain off the container E while the medicament is being heated, or it may be replaced prior to the vaporization of the medicament. It will also be understood that various suitable materials may be used in fabricating my invention, and I am aware that various changes in the construction of the improvements herein described may be made without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An electric vaporizer, comprising in combination, a hollow base, a switch assembly in said base and anchored therein against undesired vertical movement, a heater-container unit set over the upper end of said base so as to seal the heater and switch against access of the overflow of the container contents and interlockingly engaging a part of said switch assembly and shiftable vertically relative to said base, the base switch and said unit having co-acting means which retain the unit in proper vertical and lateral relation to the upper portion of said base, and a cover removably mounted on said heater-container unit.

2. An electric vaporizer, comprising in combination, a hollow base, a heater mounted on the upper end of said base, switch mechanism in the base for turning said heater on and off, a container positioned on said heater and adapted to receive the medicament to be vaporized, a cover removably embracing said container, said cover having a relatively wide thick-walled hollow base provided with a plurality of vertically extending grooves on the inner wall thereof, the upper extremities of said groovesbeing turned inwardly substantially at the level of the upper edge of the container, said grooves serving to direct air currents upwardly along the outer walls of and .thence across the upper end of said container to heat said currents and entrain medicament vapors, and a nasal part on the upper end of said cover for directing the vapors to the nasal passage.

3. An electric vaporizer, comprising in combination, an elongated hollow base, a switch having resilient blades mounted therein, one blade of said switch being interlocked with a wall of said base and both blades of the switch being held against rotation in the base, a heater adjustably connected to said interlocked blade and adapted to be clamped by said adjustable connection against the top of said base, undue upward movement of said interlocked blade during such clamping action being resisted by said wall of said base, a container positioned on said heater and heated thereby, and a cover for said container. l

4. An electric vaporizer, comprising in combination, a base member, a heater supported on the upper end thereof, a switch mounted in said base member for turning said heater on and off, an electric cord connected to said switch, a one piece container engaging said heater, said container being turned in on itself at the top to form a deep cup having an outwardly spaced dependent skirt or sleeve adapted to sealingly engage the top of said base member and form a heat storing chamber about said cup, a cover set over said container and having a relatively wide thick base for insulating against the heat of said container, said cover being provided with a stop or shoulder for engaging a portion of said container and being provided also with a plurality of vertically extending grooves arranged in its base, said grooves being adapted, on inhalation, to guide air currents upwardly along the hot walls of said container into the interior of said cover, and means for drawing downwardly on said container to complete its sealing relation to said base member.

5. A cap for vaporizer devices as herein described comprising a body of insulating material having a tapering nozzle at one end and a skirt at the other end, said skirt portion having a series of spaced vertical internal grooves or air passages, and a seating shoulder intermediate the ends of said body and near which the upper ends of said grooves terminate.

6. An electric vaporizer comprising in combination, an elongated hollow base member, a switch unit removably positioned in the base member, a heater unit adapted to seat on the end of the base member in circuit with the switch means, and a container unit having a radially outwardly spaced depending skirt or sleeve extension snugly engageable about the end of the base member, said container when in contact with the top of the base member being also in engagement with the heater unit and subjecting the heater unit to pressure, said container and skirt or sleeve serving to sealingly close the top of the base member and form a heat storing chamber about the container unit, said switch comprising a terminal assembly seated in the base member and a pair of upwardly extending spring terminal blades, one of said blades having a bent end that yieldably contacts with the heater unit terminal, and the other blade being formed with a shiftable contact to engage the other heaterunit terminal for closing the heater circuit.

7. An electric vaporizer comprising, in combination, a hollow base member, switch means in said base member, a heater unit above and in circuit with the switch means, and a container unit including extension means snugly fitting over the end of the base member and sealingly enclosing the heater unit and the top of the base member to prevent contents of container which may spill over from coming in con tact with the heater or the switch, said container unit comprising a cup for volatile substances, and said extension means comprising a sleeve extending below the cup and in spaced relation thereto to form a heat storing chamber about said cup.

8. An electric vaporizer comprising, in combination, an elongated hollow handle, switch means anchored in said handle, said switch means including a pair of vertically extending resilient blades the lower ends of which are rigidly mounted in securing means arranged in the bottom of said handle, said securing means including vertically extending bearings which position the blades perpendicularly in said handle and by which the blades are fixed against rocking movement in the handle, a heater above said switch and in circuit therewith, said heater being provided with a vertically extending shank supported in said handle in cooperative relation to said switch means, said heater being mounted on a seat formed on said handle above said switch blades to position the heater and said shank vertically and horizontally with respect to said switch means, a one-piece container forming a cup for a volatile substance, said container being turned back on itself to form an extension which extension is laterally spaced a substantial distance from the cup, said extension fitting snugly over and interlocking with the top of said handle and sealingly closing the heater and the top of said handle liquid-tight whereby any contents 10 of the container which may spill over are prevented from coming in contact with the heater or said switch means, said cup serving to prevent upward movement of the heater with respect to said extension, and a nozzle mounted on said container for directing vapors to the nasal passages, said nozzle being provided with a shoulder for positioning the nozzle vertically and with an extension for positioning the nozzle laterally with respect to said container.

JOSEPH ROBINSON. 

